Exfoliating tongue fur

        Exfoliating tongue fur. Exfoliating tongue fur means that the fur on the tongue has exfoliated partially or completely during the course of a disease. Partial exfoliation of tongue fur is divided into anterior exfoliated tongue fur, medium exfoliated tongue fur and patched exfoliated tongue fur (see colour Fig. 13). If the tongue fur is completely exfoliated, it is called mirror-like tongue.Exfoliation of the tongue fur is usually due to failure of deficient gastric qi to fumigate the tongue or due to failure of the exhausted gastric yin to moisten the tongue.Therefore the exfoliafion of the tongue fur can tell whether the gastric qi and yin still exist or not and how the prognosis of a disease will be. Exfoliated tongue fur and deep-red tongue indicate consumption of yin by exuberant heat; exfoliated tongue fur and light-coloured tongue indicate consumption of both qi and yin; mirror-like tongue suggests severe consumption of gastric qi and is a sign of t

 he exhaustion of gastric yin. If the tongue fur is patched and greasy, it suggests that phlegm is not resolved, healthy qi is consumed and the pathological conditions are complicated. During the course of a disease, if the tongue fur is completely exfoliated, it means insufficiency of gastric qi and yin, gradual decline of healthy qi and gradual  worsening of the pathological conditions; if the tongue fur reappears thin and white after exfoliation, it indicates gradual restoration of gastric qi and favourable recovery from the disease.

The tongue fur with or without root= The tongue fur with root means that the fur is closely attached to the surface of the tongue and is not easy to exfoliate. It is also called real tongue fur. The tongue fur without root means that the tongue fur appears floating or painted on the tongue and is easy to exfoliate. It is also called false tongue fur.
 
The tongue fur with root is formed by accumulation of gastric qi with turbid pathogenic factors on the tongue: the tongue fur without root is due to failure of gastric qi too exhausted to produce new fur and inability of the original fur to continue on the tongue. Inspecting whether the tongue fur is with or without fur is helpful for understanding whether gastric qi still exists or not and whether the pathogenic factors are exuberating or declining. Such an understanding enables one to know whether the disease is serious or not and whether the prognosis is favourable or unfavourable. The tongue fur with root at the primary and medium stages of a disease indicates that pathogenic factors are in predomination but the healthy qi  is still vigorous enough to resist pathogenic factors and" that the prognosis is favourable.  The appearance of tongue fur with root at the advanced stage or in chronic disease suggests that gastric qi is still in predomination or gradually restores, signifying favourable prognosis. If the tongue fur without root appears in such a case, it indicates deficiency of gastric qi, decline of healthy qi, severity of pathological conditions and unfavourable prognosis.